On 20 February 1962, astronaut John Glenn etched his name into history as the first American to orbit the Earth aboard the Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7.
This momentous feat, executed amid the intense Cold War-era space race, saw Glenn circle the planet three times in just under five hours, demonstrating the United States’ capability in manned spaceflight and countering Soviet advances.
Despite technical malfunctions, including a false alarm suggesting his heat shield was compromised, Glenn maintained composure, manually piloting the spacecraft before safely splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.
His successful mission bolstered national pride, galvanised NASA’s ambitions, and paved the way for future lunar exploration.
